On paper, the Commercial ePacket (CeP) sounded like the perfect option for small package shippers who needed to balance cost with tracking and timely delivery. Well, after 6 months and tens of thousands of packages sent, the results are very impressive! Customers are saving 50% or more compared to First Class Package International (FCPI) and getting tracking.

The following chart details tracking data from a block of 2,908 packages. All results are included (no “cherry picking” the faster deliveries) - actual tracking numbers are available upon request. A package was considered “delivered” upon the first attempt.

Country

Pkgs in sample*

Scan rate

Avg delivery (business days)

Australia

482

97%

8.2

Belgium

27

100%

4.7

Canada

1,067

99%

5.6

Denmark

30

87%

4.5

Finland

36

89%

5.8

France

76

87%

4.2

Germany

74

92%

5.5

Great Britain

521

97%

4.7

Ireland

44

100%

2.8

Israel

112

94%

8.9

Italy

49

94%

7.6

Netherlands

29

100%

5.1

New Zealand

79

100%

4.2

Portugal

21

90%

7.2

Singapore

42

95%

6.0

Spain

63

98%

4.5

Sweden

73

99%

4.0

Switzerland

48

100%

5.5

COLUMN TOTALS:

2,908

97.1%

5.9

* Note that Croatia, Estonia, Gibraltar, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, and Malta did not have at least 10 packages in the sampling and were not listed. Packages to these countries however ARE included in the total scan rate and delivery averages.

How does someone get the tracking data?

Simply go to www.usps.com and enter your tracking number (assigned by Endicia when you print your label, prefixed by “LX”). You can enter up to 35 packages at a time. Below is a sample of the tracking data:

USPS adds BRAZIL to the list!

Beginning September 28, 2015, customers can use the ePacket service to send packages to Brazil. From what we’ve heard from customers, this will prove to be very popular.

According to Entrepreneur Magazine, Latin America is the second fastest growing ecommerce market in the world. And at the heart of that growth lies Brazil. Beware however that private shipping carriers often include surcharges that aren’t billed until after a package has been shipped. This is why the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a great option for lightweight residential deliveries. See the entire article here.

Start shipping within a week!

If you’re interested in using Commercial ePacket in your business, please contact us - it’s very easy to get started. The only system requirement is to be using ENDICIA PROFESSIONAL shipping software. Unfortunately, Stamps.com is unable at this time to provide the consolidator integration necessary to print the unique labels.

To insure the best possible pricing, please provide a snapshot of your volume - both current and projected, along with the weight range and primary destinations. We’ll put together a plan to get you shipping within a week or so.

What is Commercial ePacket (CeP)? It’s a relatively new service from the United States Postal Service that provides door to door tracking to 28 countries (adding BRAZIL 9/28/15)with more being added. The service is only available for small packages containing merchandise and weighing 4.4 lbs or less.

HUGE SAVINGS! Compared to First Class Package International (FCPI), our all-inclusive rate for CeP will save you 30-50% over what you’d pay for postage alone. Your savings will vary by piece weight and destination country. This is a mere fraction of what you’d pay for other trackable services like PMEI and PMI.

How do customers use the service? You must be using Endicia Professional shipping software to print the unique CeP label shown above. IMS is able to fully integrate with your account to facilitate the package data transfer. Once enabled, you can begin using the service immediately. IMS will sort your packages by country and apply our permit imprint to pay for postage.

What can you send? You can send packages weighing up to 4.4 lbs with a value of $400 or less. The packages must be rectangular in shape and the total of length, height, and thickness cannot exceed 36″ (not greater than 24″ in length alone). Minimum size is 6″ x 3″ x 1/4″.

Tracking packages: The USPS tracking number sequences are preassigned through your Endicia account. When you generate an order or package label, the “LX” prefixed number appears on your manifest and shipping label so you can pass this on to your customers immediately. Packages can be tracked direct from USPS.com.

What is the cost? You get tracking and 5-10 day delivery for up to 50% off the cost of First Class Pkg Intl postage alone. Your savings will vary by destination country, weight, and overall volume.

How to get more information: We would be happy to provide a quick analysis of your costs if you can provide a profile of your package weights, quantities, destinations, etc. Call our office at 800-466-6245 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also browse our web site to get more information about CeP or any of the other mail and parcel services we offer. Thank you!